If, like me, you’ve got a fair collection of accessories for your iPod, you may be as pleasantly surprised as I was when I leapt into the Breen Bugser and, on a whim because my iPhone’s charge was down to about half, jacked the thing into the car’s DLO TransPod. Damned if it didn’t work.
Sure, like any iPod accessory capable of amplifying sound it produced the iPhone’s offer to switch the iPhone into Airplane Mode. I did just that and was tickled to discover that the TransPod not only charged my iPhone but also performed its primary job-transmitting the iPhone’s music to my car stereo.
My colleague, gadget-guru and Macworld gemologist, Dan Frakes, will be covering iPod accessory compatibility in a big way in the next few days, so be sure to tune in for the definitive word. In the meantime, I’ve learned this much about FM transmitters:
Dock-connector FM transmitters like the TransPod that can’t be controlled from the iPod’s screen seem to work. If you don’t switch the iPhone into Airplane Mode, you’re going to get a lot of audio interference from the phone side of the iPhone.
Those dock-connector transmitters that are controlled from the iPod’s screen-Griffin Technology’s iTrip Pocket and Belkin’s TuneFM for iPod for example-don’t work. Plug them in, you see the Airplane Mode dialog box, and then a screen that shows a picture of an iPod accompanied by the words Accessory Attached (see the tiny picture that begins this entry).
Transmitters that use the iPod’s audio jack might work, but because the iPhone requires a special thin headphone connector, I can’t test any I possess. Given that these things are simply taking an audio signal out and passing it through the transmitter, they should work too.
Lesson learned? If you have iPod accessories and an iPhone, it might not be a bad idea to try the accessories you currently have before dashing out to buy something made specifically for the iPhone.
I use an iGo car charger with interchangeable tips. I bought an iPod tip and plugged it in. It works just great.
Just tried the iPhone in my Audi A3.
I don't have onboard Bluetooth but do have a nice DICE interface for my video iPod into the stereo via the CD changer port, so . . .
... now my iPhone charges, plays music, displays album art nice and bright and big, so it's real easy to see while driving, surfs the web and monitors three email accounts while driving (for passenger use only; I'm not THAT crazy [g]), and of course can haul up Google maps, calendars, and weather.
I do have to say NO to the not-compatible nag warning for all this to work, but so far no interference problems.
There's even a way to do hands-free phone. The DICE mutes the music on an incoming call and the ring comes through the car stereo, but then no sound from the call comes out that way, so I have to tap Speaker. But then it works hands-free!
Not bad for no bluetooth.
-dan
Some headphones *might* work with some trimming. I managed to cut a thin strip of rubber off of the connector on my Creative EP-630's, after that they fit fine and work perfectly.
The problem I'm thinking with the phono line out type FM transmitters is GSM noise...even with halfway decent desktop speakers here, I get wicked bad interference anytime I have the phone docked.
>The problem I'm thinking with the phono line out type FM transmitters is GSM noise
Right. And because the transmitter won't connect through the dock connector, the iPhone won't understand that you have an audio accessory plugged into it, so it won't ask you if you'd like to switch to Airplane Mode. I'm sure you'll learn to do this manually when you hear the wretched noise coming through your car stereo.
Does anyone know if a Firewire iPod power adapter works with the iPhone? I have plenty of those lying around, it would be nice to use them as extra iPhone chargers...
Here are my experiences with the iPod accessories I tried with the iPhone:
1. The Apple iPod Radio Remote doesn't work (I didn't expect it to, however, I wouldn't mind a little FM from time to time).
2. The Apple Camera Connector doesn't work either. I would love to off load pictures to the iPhone from my camera. How about a Camera Connector that accepts SD Memory Cards (wink, wink)
When I plug in both accessories, I get the “This accessory is not supported by iPhone” message. A software update can take care of both of these (wink,wink).
My Shure earbuds do not work; however, the v-moda vibes work great.. just can't click and answer.
For those of you who have Bose QuietComfrort headphones, you might have found that the connector does not fit into the iPhone plug as it is "recessed". I am wondering if there are any adapters which will allow me to use my QuiteComfort headphones with the iPhone.
My Belkin Auto Kit for iPod w/ Dock Connector (Part # F8V7058-APL) doesn't charge my iPhone. :(
It gives the airport mode accessory warning. The battery has a charge symbol in it but didn't charge. The sound output worked well though. The sound was great using the output on the charger and a tape adapter. May even sound better than my 2G iPod. I don't understand why it wouldn't charge. Guess I'll have to buy something else? I really like the design of this charger because it has the output jack and volume dial so you don't have to adjust the volume on the iPod/iPhone when you connect it. Oh well.
The bluetooth connectivity for placing phone calls on the 2007 BMW 3 series does work with the iPhone. I've heard a lot about the limitations of the bluetooth on the iPhone and was concerned it wouldn't pair at all with the car. To my surprise it not only pairs, but you can also see your entire address book of phone numbers on the BMW's screen. So, although you cannot use voice dialing on the iPhone itself, you can use the car's voice recognition to dial your iPhone's contacts. The phone list shows all numbers for a contact with the type in parentheses [e.g. Eric (Mobile), Eric (Work)]. It works very well. Now I just have to find a charger with output level that works with the iPhone.
There are a couple of headphone adapters available now. One of them is the TTD adapter Apple sells for $20. I think I saw a Belkin adapter fro $12. There's also a really nice accessory that will let you plug in any headphones to an extension cord that has a microphone and call control button built in.
Use the dock's line out for any device that has its own volume control. Its mini-jack is standard and there's no interference.
-dan
i got a question about the iphone.
i have a DLO that will transfer my ipod music through my car.
will it work for the iphone as well??